How to Prepare for Climbing Mount Kazbek

Mount Kazbek is one of the most famous mountains of Caucasus, where most of the ascents take place. Though the classic trail of Mount Kazbek from south does not have any difficult technical elements, it is still considered a full-fledged mountaineering ascent, for which you need to prepare with full responsibility.

Technical Description

First, let’s see what technical features Kazbek has unlike other non-mountaineering mountains. Since the route passes through a glacier that has deep cracks, there is a risk of slipping and sliding down the slope and even falling into a crevasse. To avoid everything mentioned above, we need crampons to walk on the ice and firn, an ice axe and rope in order to keep ourselves on the ice.

The participants create a common bundle with a rope, which is called a rope team. People in a rope team hold each other. If one of them falls, friends do not let him slip and fall into the crack. It is necessary to understand how to use these tools in mountaineering. It is very important to walk correctly in a rope team. At first, it might seem irritating, as you should match your walking pace to others. You will not be able to stop and drink water whenever you want, take photos or “water flowers”. You need to learn how to walk symmetrically. Over time, you will find that walking in a rope team is much easier and faster.

Slow and monotonous walking takes less energy from you, and you do not need to do frequent stops.

Climbing Mount Kazbek

The absolute height of Mount Kazbek is 5047 m. That means that we need to prepare our body for these high-altitude conditions. The height of 5000 m significantly differs from the heights that we are used to living – for example 300 to 1200 m. The atmospheric pressure at this altitude is low, therefore, the air is discharged, and there is little oxygen. To survive in such conditions, you need to teach your body to work economically and to absorb oxygen more efficiently. However, having good physical abilities is not enough. Being mentally prepared for such conditions is more important. You have to learn to step out of your comfort zone, far beyond your usual weekend hikes.

Because in any case, even a person with no physical training has a huge reserve of resources before he gets completely exhausted. However, it is much more difficult to measure and assess the psychological durability. In order not to face any unexpected problem in the mountains, you have to train both your body and your willpower. You need to start with cardio workouts: running, swimming, cycling, hiking. In short, sports that train the heart and lungs.

Cardio Workouts

Cardio workouts help to enlarge the volume of the heart and lungs. As a result, the body more efficiently supplies the entire body with oxygenated blood. With one breath, you are able to respire more air, and the heart can pump more blood into the vessels in one contraction. Because of this, people with poor physical abilities get exhausted very quickly in the mountains. The heart begins to beat faster (140-160 beats per minute); breathing becomes quick and shallow, which makes you waste more energy.

Besides, you also have to train your muscles. It is especially important to train the muscles of the legs, back, waist and abdomen. You need to train your legs for walking. However, while walking we also use the muscles of the abdomen, pelvis, waist, and lower back.

Do not forget about the heavy backpack, for which you have to train your back and shoulder muscles. If you have time and money, you can register in the gym for several months and with the help of your coach, create a training program that will be suitable for you. There are also more affordable options. You can create the program on your own, as the Internet is full of such kind of articles and forums. On the Internet, you can find all the information you need. However, there is an even easier option. The best workout routines are jogging and horizontal bar exercises.

Go hiking

Hiking is another great option. It is advisable to take hikes in the mountains, during which you will climb to any peak. This will teach you the psychology of a mountaineer: that is patience and willpower to reach the summit. You will communicate with people who have the same way of thinking, and will have the opportunity to exchange your experiences and learn something new.

During hikes, you train the same muscles that are needed for climbing Kazbek. Shortly, the ideal training program looks like this. Two days a week, you can have strength training exercises: one for training your legs, other for back and waist. The third day can be jogging, and finally hiking during the weekend. If for any reason you cannot go hiking that week, you can replace it with training in the city.

If you are not slim, gain weight easily and manage to get enough nutrition during the day, you can combine running and strength training. One day you can train your back, shoulders, and have a 5 km run. The next day you can work on the muscles of the abdomen and waist, then a short run. You can skip jogging on the day of leg workout, in order not to put too much pressure on the leg muscles.

Proper Meal Plan

During the physical training, you should also have a proper meal plan. You should eat at least four times a day, in small portions. Eat plenty of protein and carbohydrates. For a maximum result, eat chicken fillet, lean beef, fish, non-fat cottage cheese, oatmeal, buckwheat, rice, eggs, and banana. However, do not forget about vegetables and vitamins. It will be great if along with physical exercises you also get some multivitamins and Omega-6 fatty acids (in the form of pills). It improves the metabolism, helps to boost your body immunity and has many positive effects on your body. In order not to forget about our main topic, you can find the relevant material yourself on the Internet.

Develop your Willpower

As for willpower and getting out of your comfort zone. First, it will automatically develop with the regular training, because in order to follow a regular training plan, you must not be lazy and maintain discipline. Secondly, we will repeat it again – go hiking, a lot of hiking. Try to be at an altitude of 3000 meters and higher several times during the year, sleep on tents at an altitude of 3000 m. Use winter months to test your cold resistance. Hiking in winter months is an ideal option, as you will feel what awaits you in high altitude conditions.

Since it is difficult to sit down and learn all the nuances and safety rules in a month, you must study this area for a whole year, you must live with the thought that you will climb Kazbek. Spend a lot of time reading relevant forums, blogs and books, watching relevant videos on YouTube. The Internet is full of such information.

Before climbing Kazbek, Elbrus, or other high mountains, you can read our articles about outdoor survival – frostbite, hypothermia, sunstroke etc. All this information is very important.

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